Alexander Wang sweatshop claim dispute advances

The $450 million lawsuit filed against fashion designer Alexander Wang last month has taken a new turn. Wenyu Lu, the former employee of Wang's factory in Manhattan's Chinatown who along with 30 co-workers is suing Wang for being made to work in what he describes as 'sweatshop' conditions, has filed a motion to discontinue the case filed earlier this month at Queens Supreme Court,
New York Post
report.

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However, far from being over, Lu's lawyer Ming Hai has confirmed that the case will be refilled in federal court and handed over to a lawyer specialising in labour law.

Wang and his business partrner brother, Dennis, are accused of making staff work

16-hour days with no overtime, in an unventilated, windowless, 200-square-foot room with more than 15 other workers.

Lu, who claimed to work 84 hours a week, said he suffered work-related illnesses, including an eye injury and kidney stones, which resulted in an emergency operation two years ago. He was fired on February 16 after complaining about the poor conditions and applying for worker's compensation for injuries sustained on the job.

Thirty of Lu's co-workers have added themselves to case, including another ex-employee, Flor Duante, who claimed she worked more than 90-hour weeks and was fired after filing for workers compensation. The plaintiffs are demanding $50 million for each of the suit's nine charges, including labour law violations, breach of agreement and unjust enrichment.

A spokeswoman for Wang, whose designs have been worn by celebrities including Zoe Kravitz, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Gwyneth Paltrow said: "The company takes its obligations to comply with the law very seriously, including the relevant wage and hour regulations, the payment of overtime to eligible employees and having a safe working environment for all of our employees. We will vehemently defend any allegations to the contrary."